Newcastle town wall, curtain north of White Friar Tower

HER Number:
1514

District:
Newcastle

Site Name:
Newcastle town wall, curtain north of White Friar Tower

Place:
Newcastle

Map Sheet:
NZ26SW

Class:
Defence

Site Type: Broad:
Town Defences

Site Type: Specific:
Town Wall

General Period:
Medieval

Specific Period:
C14

Form of Evidence:
Ruined Building

Description:
Although the northern 51 metres of this stretch of curtain was demolished 1845-49 for the new railway, the rest - with one break - survives "for 131 metres, and stands in places 9.20 metres high with its wall walk and part of the parapet". Holmes declared there were once 2 turrets on this stretch, but these are not shown on Beckman's plan of 1683. Recent examination has detected 33 constructional phases. Of these 1-8 form the earliest masonry, possibly a low wall with parapet. Builds 9-12 raised the wall by c. 2 metres, though whether after a temporary pause or as an afterthought is not clear; nos. 13-14 & 16 completed the medieval work. Nos. 17-19 represent two major mid-17th century repairs of breaches made by a mine and artillery during the Civil War. Holes by the Federation Brewery, later made good, and restoration in 1952 and the late 1980s account for the other phases. SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENT AND LISTED GRADE 1

Easting:
2485

Northing:
6367

Grid Reference:
NZ24856367

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 1514 >> S. Holmes, 1896, The Town Walls of Newcastle upon Tyne, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, XVIII, 12 B. Harbottle, 1969, The Town Wall of Newcastle...Consolidation and Excavation in 1968, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4, XLVII, 85-87, pl. viii J. Nolan, 1993, The Town Wall, Newcastle...Excavations at Orchard Street...1987-89, Archaeologia Aeliana,